WINONA LAKE – The Goshen College women’s basketball team hit two free throws with 5.6 seconds remaining to beat host Grace College 59-57 on Saturday in Crossroads League play.

A desperation 3-point attempt from Kelsey Sule as time expired was off the mark as the Lady Lancers (6-6, 0-3 Crossroads League) lost their fourth straight contest.

Grace started the first half sluggishly, allowing the Maple Leafs (8-3, 3-0 CL) to jump out to an 18-9 lead after nine minutes of action. The Lady Lancers battled back, however, and trailed by just one at the half 28-27.

Gabby Bryant scored the first points of the second half to put Grace on top, and the Lady Lancers stayed in front for nearly the rest of the game. Grace started the second half on a 9-0 run and led by as many as eight points.

Goshen tied the game at 52-52 with two minutes remaining, and two free throws from Allison Kauffman moved the Lady Lancers ahead by two. After the Maple Leafs scored on their next possession, Kauffman made 1-of-2 from the foul line to make the score 55-54 with 1:06 on the clock.

The next play flipped the game in Goshen’s favor for good. Jo’Mani Thomas drove the lane, made a basket and was fouled to hand the Maple Leafs a two-point edge. Bryant made a jumper with 32 seconds remaining to tie the game, but Goshen was fouled on a layup with less than six seconds remaining. Keshia Ward calmly sank both attempts, and Sule’s potential game-winning triple from the top of the key missed to seal Grace’s defeat.

Both teams shot below 40 percent from the floor, including a combined 3-for-19 from the 3-point line. Kauffman finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds, and Darian Patton had seven points, five assists and two steals.

Sarah Feasby scored eight points off the bench, Bryant added six points and seven boards, and Lindsey Schaefer hauled in eight rebounds.

The Lady Lancers will be away from the Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center until Jan. 7 against Spring Arbor. Grace’s next games are in Florida against Johnson & Wales on Dec. 15 and against St. Thomas on Dec. 16.